T1B

Alright scUMmers, let's do this. I challenge you dinglerods to a two week sig and/or av bet.

I'm not as confident about this game as I once was. The OSU massacre has left me, and possibly but hopefully not the team, feeling flat all week. I haven't felt such a lack of excitement for this game since...well, ever. I was actually more pumped for the Northwestern game. I'm sure you guys share similar feelings.

One thing that does comfort me is the fact that Michigan has been outscored something like 66-6 in the second half of their last three games. I don't know what's going on with the Barwis s&c program, but this plays well into MSU's hands as they're a second half team, and like to wear you down late into the 4th quarter on the ground.

No further predictions and breakdowns are necessary because this game will not play out like anybody expects. If I say Ringer will rush for 150 with 3 tds, he'll get 60 rush yards and a season ending injury. If I say Threet will be forced into poor decisions causing at least 2 turnovers he will throw for 500 yards and bang the hottest MSU co-ed after the game.

I will, however, predict a final score:

(if the weather holds up)
MSU 34
Michigan 26

(if it pours)
MSU 21
Michigan 13

Just curious, Mgo, when was the last time Sparty won in AA? I seem to recall a game there back in 1990 (?) where Michigan went for a 2-pt conversion at the end of the game to win it. They threw a jumpball to Desmond Howard and he either tripped or was interfered with but no flag. MSU won the game. Is that the last time you guys won up there? Anyways, I think you break the streak Saturday. Ringer will have a big day.

Sparty 26
UM 16

I'll play. One week, sig only.

CFBDW is your friend.

10-13-1990
Michigan 27
MSU 28
Ann Arbor, MI

WolverineSteve wrote:I'll play. One week, sig only.

Scared much? Fine, one week it is.

L45B wrote:Just curious, Mgo, when was the last time Sparty won in AA? I seem to recall a game there back in 1990 (?) where Michigan went for a 2-pt conversion at the end of the game to win it. They threw a jumpball to Desmond Howard and he either tripped or was interfered with but no flag. MSU won the game. Is that the last time you guys won up there? Anyways, I think you break the streak Saturday. Ringer will have a big day.

Sparty 26
UM 16

he was interfered with. the big ten issued an apology the week after the game, or said interference should have been called, or something like that. but whatevs, msu gets theirs for cheating: they haven't won in aa since then, and they haven't won at all since fitting their scoreboard with pads and a jersey.

i don't know how long my avatar is booked for, but you can make reservations.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:

WolverineSteve wrote:I'll play. One week, sig only.

Scared much? Fine, one week it is.

not scared, but not changing my av for a sparty. as for the length of the deal, I think one week is plenty, I was just trying to take it easy on you, lil bro.

You think Michigan is going to win?

In for another bet...I've got a good idea for a "Little Brother" avatar I can drop on SpartyFan.

To me, Michigan has a shot because State doesn't run that exotic of an offense. They remind of the Wisconsin attack...good ground game with an okay QB at best. I think if Hoyer plays mistake-free and Ringer moves the chains and wears down the Michigan defense going into the fourth quarter...the Spartans will get over. If Michigan can keep Ringer's carries to 20 or below, I think they can win. I think them getting off to a good start would help. Force State to throw as a comeback tactic. I don't expect a blitzkrieg of a start like what OSU gave them last week but to get a first possession TD for Threet and company could set them up nicely. No bad turnovers...meaning turning it over in their own end or just turnovers that weren't forced by the other team.

Michigan State 17
Michigan 21

M Club wrote:i don't know how long my avatar is booked for, but you can make reservations.

Wasn't it just for a week?

Rack Mike Hart!!!

Hart stands by year-old comment
Angelique S. Chengelis / The Detroit News
Some things never change.

Mike Hart, Michigan's all-time leading rusher, now with the Indianapolis Colts and awaiting knee surgery, still believes Michigan State is the Wolverines' "little brother."

Just ask him.


"They're a good program, don't get me wrong, but they're not Michigan," Hart said this week by phone. "They're always going to have to fight that they're not Michigan. They're always going to be in Michigan's shadow.

"They'll always be second to us whether they beat us or not. They have to go on a winning streak for a while. But it's more than that. As far as Ann Arbor goes, compared to East Lansing, Michigan compared to Michigan State, Michigan is the better school, and that's not just me talking."

Michigan (2-5) has a six-game winning streak against Michigan State (6-2). They'll play in the 101st meeting Saturday at Michigan Stadium, where the Spartans have not won since 1990. The Wolverines' 28-24 victory at MSU last season was the genesis of the "little brother" talk, compliments of Hart.

Hart was asked after the game what he was thinking while Michigan trailed by 10 points with 7:40 left. The Wolverines took the lead for good with 2:29 left when Mario Manningham caught a 31-yard pass from Chad Henne.

"I was just laughing," said Hart, who rushed for 110 yards. "I thought it was funny. They got excited. It's good. Sometimes you get your little brother excited when you're playing basketball and you let him get the lead. Then you come back and take it from him."

Hart is still laughing. He watched the Big Ten Network earlier this week and was amused the "little brother" comment was still a source of conversation.

He now admits it was a calculated response intended specifically to get under the skin of the Spartans.

"That's why I said it," he said. "I didn't care. I knew I was going to be gone, and I know it was selfish on my part

"It was definitely (generated) from what they were saying all week in interviews. Coach (Lloyd) Carr always showed us their interviews, and they were saying stuff like, 'Michigan thinks we're their little brother. Michigan is conceited,' this and that, and I just repeated what they said."

Spartans coach Mark Dantonio this week said he doesn't his response to Hart's remarks last year when he responded: "Does Hart have a little brother or is he the little brother? I don't know. He's that tall." He raised his hand chest-high at that point.

"I thought that was the funny part," Hart said this week of Dantonio's reaction. "He's just so tough he felt he had to say something. You could tell he was pretty mad."

This week, Dantonio said he didn't want to talk about the year-old comments, but he did throw one little bone when he mentioned: "Big Brother is watching."

What if the Spartans, 3 1/2 -point favorites, win on Saturday? Will that elevate them to big-brother status?

"They'll think that, but it will take more than one game for that to happen," Hart said.

Hart talks about Michigan State as he always has -- with a hint of humor in every word. Make no mistake, though. Hart says he doesn't hate the Spartans.

"I don't hate 'em, I just don't like them," he said, laughing. "I like the players. It's a rivalry game, and it's fun. It's the way it's supposed to be. I just don't like the school -- I don't like Michigan State."

little brother's losing streak in aa can actually vote in this election. too bad michigan's not a battleground state.

Should be a tough game but I think Sparty smells blood in the water and a rare win in AA. I think Ringer eventually gets his and slams the door on RR's boys.

MSU 27
Mich 21

Shoalzie wrote:

M Club wrote:i don't know how long my avatar is booked for, but you can make reservations.

Wasn't it just for a week?

Consider the bet consequences at an end, please.

RACK BROWN and RACK George Perles for twisting the knife.

Guilty as charged: Ex-MSU back admits fouling U-M's Howard
Eric Lacy / The Detroit News

EAST LANSING -- Former Michigan State defensive back Eddie Brown has a confession.

Yes, Brown says, he did trip Desmond Howard in the end zone during the MSU-Michigan game in 1990. He says he did it purposely to prevent Howard from catching what would have been a winning two-point conversion in the game's final seconds. No penalty was called and MSU held on for a 28-27 victory -- the last time the Spartans won in Ann Arbor.

"I thought to myself, 'There ain't no way I'm going back to Michigan State if I give up this score,' " said Brown, 39. "They had a referee out there. He didn't blow the whistle or throw a flag.

"You have to do what you have to do for your football team."

Brown, who is defensive line coach at Grand Valley State, can't be at today's 3:30 game, but said he'll "be watching" before Grand Valley's 7 p.m. home kickoff against Ashland.

"I'm sure I'll think about 'The Play,' " Brown said.

Howard declined to comment Friday about the controversial play.

"My response is Obama/Biden '08, get that across to 2 your readers 4 me," wrote Howard, in a text message to The Detroit News.

Former MSU coach George Perles has no problem with Brown relying on instincts to benefit his team.

From Perles' perspective on the sideline, Howard dropped the pass from Elvis Grbac, which hit him squarely in the chest.

Whether there was a penalty on the play, Perles said, remains a matter of interpretation.

"Football is an interesting game, looked at differently by all sorts of people," Perles said. "It was a good throw, right at the heart of his chest and (Howard) dropped it.

"If you want to see the play again, it gets shown on the Big Ten Network every other day."

Brown said he's reminded about the play nearly on a daily basis and has no problem sharing his insight.

Michigan State fans often applaud his effort, while Michigan supporters claim it was robbery.

Perles brushed off the sentiment of U-M fans.

"That's part of the game, people," Perles said. "People say all kind of things ... It's part of the entertainment.

"Someone has to be the scapegoat."

Brown said he doesn't feel like the fall guy, but would love to see his alma mater win in Ann Arbor so current players can receive praise.

"I'm a little disappointed with our record in the series," Brown said. "But I guess that keeps my little legacy and play intact."

You can reach Eric Lacy at elacy@detnews.com.

My take on the play.....

Was Howard molested? Sure. But the game should have never come down to that play. Michigan played like shit all day. I will Rack Coach Mo for going for the win vs. the tie. UM was #1 and even winning at the end was going to drop them in the polls. With the instant replay rules of today I think the refs would have seen that Desmond caught the ball and the ball came out when his back hit the ground. The conversion would have been good and Sparties would have gone away miserable yet again. But those were different time children. Today there is overtime where clearly Michigan would've won after just kicking the exta point.


Oh yeah.......
67-28-5

i said before: comeuppance. msu gets theirs for taking what's ours. i'll trade one loss for 18 years.

M Club wrote:i said before: comeuppance. msu gets theirs for taking what's ours. i'll trade one loss for 18 years.

Comeuppance...better plays and coaches. Whatever. If MSU can win today I think we'll start to see the playing field level out a little bit.

cripple bowl 2008

starring Michigan and Michigan st

McDonough and Speils are calling the game...NICE!

Edit--E.A. too...double NICE!

Adelpiero wrote:cripple bowl 2008

starring Michigan and Michigan st

I'm not even going to guess who's going to win this game after last week.

I'd say Mich. State is going to kill them... but, after they laid down against Ohio State... I just don't know.


At least Tedford pulled his head out of his ass... long enough to start Kevin Riley again, and put the pick 6 machine(Nate Longshore) away.... so Cal has a chance to win today.

Fuck

michigan is getting butt-fucked in the mouth

peter dragon wrote:michigan is getting butt-fucked in the mouth

Looked good on the first two plays...that's about it. Hoyer has had time to throw when he's in shotgun or takes a deeper drop from under center. Ringer has been solid as well. Michigan's tackling has to improve.

That's a strange rule...didn't think you could hit the pylon with your foot and that counts as having your foot in bounds. Minor did get his other foot in. Helluva catch by Minor.

Shoalzie wrote:That's a strange rule...didn't think you could hit the pylon with your foot and that counts as having your foot in bounds. Minor did get his other foot in. Helluva catch by Minor.

You know, I thought it was a touchdown prior to the review. He crossed the plane and then scraped the pylon. That's a TD as far as I know.

Another missed/blocked kick...points are a precious commodity today.

Big TD for Ringer late in the half...that's a killer.


EDIT--I was hoping for a field goal before the half but a nice job by Threet to get them down the field and in a position to punch it in. That's a great way to answer and end a half.

Fucking hell. That should have been a turning point for State after the long Ringer TD run, but they let UM march right back and score. Hopefully Michigan pulls their routine disappearing act in the second half. In reality, I have a feeling this'll be a slugfest until the bitter end - crippled right hooks notwithstanding.

Now I'm second guessing myself on my own knowledge of the rules.

ARTICLE 1. a. A player or an airborne player is out of bounds when any
part of his person touches anything, other than another player or game
official, on or outside a boundary line (A.R. 4-2-1-I and II).
rule 4-2 / Ball in Play, dead Ball, ouT of Bounds fr-81
b. A player or an airborne player who touches a pylon is out of bounds.

Hmmm. Oh well, still gotta show up in the second half.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:b. A player or an airborne player who touches a pylon is out of bounds.

We've got us a little controversy, don't we?

I thought that was the wrong call and I thought the McGuffie fumble could've gone either way.

Shoalzie wrote:We've got us a little controversy, don't we?

It's cool. With all due respect to Toejam, I'm not one to blame a loss on the refs, unless it's one bad call after another for four straight quarters. Fortunately, I've never really experienced that. This game will be won or lost on the field, not in the booth.

They flashed the rule on the screen just now...McDonough and Speilman are taking the call to task and rightfully so.

Michigan's best player on the team is the punter.

I don't think I've ever seen an scU-M defensive secondary this inept. Can they stop anybody through the air?

Great, entertaining, hard hitting game. This is what rivalries and CFB are all about.

Screw_Michigan wrote:I don't think I've ever seen an scU-M defensive secondary this inept. Can they stop anybody through the air?

I really thought the secondary was going to be a strength this year. State's speedy receivers are giving them fits.

Looking forward this fourth quarter...fun game so far.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:Michigan's best player on the team is the punter.

Conversely, Swenson and Bates have come up short for you guys.

Graham has been a monster on 3rd down!

Good drive for State...biggest offensive series of the season coming up for Threet.